Floating Leaf (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
floatingleaf) wrote2006-05-07 03:33 pm
floatingleaf) wrote2006-05-07 03:33 pm
Entry tags:
some cinematic gushing again
Somehow, in spite of being busy downloading porn, I finally managed to watch all the five DVDs I had ordered from Picture This!.:) And well... most of them proved a disappointment. I hate it when a trailer, a summary or even a DVD cover gives you a completely wrong impression of what the movie is about. And, unfortunately, that happens all the time. Which is not to say these movies are bad - they all have their merits, I guess; and if I had just rented them, I would probably say: "oh well... interesting", then shrugged and moved on - but after having paid over $20 for each single one, I admit I am a little peeved. I guess that would teach me to order a movie just because I THINK I might like it... *sigh*
Anyway. There is one definite cinematic masterpiece in the bunch - not surprisingly, I guess, since it won the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award in 2004. It's called The Great Water, and tells the story of two boys who find themselves in a Stalinist orphanage in Macedonia right after World War II. Needless to say, it's extremely depressing - but holy hell, how magically shot, how intense, how symbolic... To show a sad, ugly world in a breathtakingly beautiful and meaningful way - that is the highest point of cinematic achievement to me. And I guess it also resonates deeply with me for other reasons - after all, I did grow up in Eastern Europe before the fall of communism... not right after the war, obviously, but there are elements in the movie I can relate to from my parents' or grandparents' personal experience - if not my own. So it's extremely scary, but not half as exotic as it would probably be to an average American.:P And it has that unmistakable Slavic lyricism that I can't really explain to anyone who is not from those parts. As well as that "Greek tragedy feeling" of inevitable impending disaster... In short, it's just epic, majestic and utterly stunning. And the DVD includes the soundtrack album as well, which is also achingly beautiful (imagine a cross between Goran Bregovic and the score for History of Violence...;). All in all, it's a treasure, almost making up for the waste of money on the other three movies... lol.
Yes, three - because the fifth one was already on my favorites list. I just didn't own it. It's the Russian gay comedy You I Love. I know I have mentioned this film in this journal at least twice before - but I will mention it again. And again. I watched it yesterday, for the third time at least - and it made me shriek and squeal with glee just as much as it did the first time round. It's just utterly priceless. Not just hysterically funny, but sweet and romantic and fucking DEEP. Yes, deep, despite the nutty silliness that is all possible absurdities of life piled into one. And did I mention that the unmistakable Slavic lyricism is here in abundance as well? Just think of a seriously drunk Almodovar in an Eastern European setting.:D So if you happen to be one of those rare readers that could possibly understand this reference and find it encouraging, PLEASE see this movie (it IS available at Blockbuster's, for example) - if only to be able to discuss it with me.;P I can't believe nobody else has fallen in love with it. It's one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had, and I want to share... *deep wistful sigh*
Anyway. There is one definite cinematic masterpiece in the bunch - not surprisingly, I guess, since it won the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award in 2004. It's called The Great Water, and tells the story of two boys who find themselves in a Stalinist orphanage in Macedonia right after World War II. Needless to say, it's extremely depressing - but holy hell, how magically shot, how intense, how symbolic... To show a sad, ugly world in a breathtakingly beautiful and meaningful way - that is the highest point of cinematic achievement to me. And I guess it also resonates deeply with me for other reasons - after all, I did grow up in Eastern Europe before the fall of communism... not right after the war, obviously, but there are elements in the movie I can relate to from my parents' or grandparents' personal experience - if not my own. So it's extremely scary, but not half as exotic as it would probably be to an average American.:P And it has that unmistakable Slavic lyricism that I can't really explain to anyone who is not from those parts. As well as that "Greek tragedy feeling" of inevitable impending disaster... In short, it's just epic, majestic and utterly stunning. And the DVD includes the soundtrack album as well, which is also achingly beautiful (imagine a cross between Goran Bregovic and the score for History of Violence...;). All in all, it's a treasure, almost making up for the waste of money on the other three movies... lol.
Yes, three - because the fifth one was already on my favorites list. I just didn't own it. It's the Russian gay comedy You I Love. I know I have mentioned this film in this journal at least twice before - but I will mention it again. And again. I watched it yesterday, for the third time at least - and it made me shriek and squeal with glee just as much as it did the first time round. It's just utterly priceless. Not just hysterically funny, but sweet and romantic and fucking DEEP. Yes, deep, despite the nutty silliness that is all possible absurdities of life piled into one. And did I mention that the unmistakable Slavic lyricism is here in abundance as well? Just think of a seriously drunk Almodovar in an Eastern European setting.:D So if you happen to be one of those rare readers that could possibly understand this reference and find it encouraging, PLEASE see this movie (it IS available at Blockbuster's, for example) - if only to be able to discuss it with me.;P I can't believe nobody else has fallen in love with it. It's one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had, and I want to share... *deep wistful sigh*
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(Anonymous) 2006-05-11 09:34 am (UTC)(link)Lestat
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And maybe I shouldn't say it, but I had a dream about YOU not so long ago... with more or less the same content. It just made me realize again that nothing has changed... *sigh*
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(Anonymous) 2006-05-12 12:48 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
And you don't have to say anything. I'm just telling you this because it's one of the reasons I haven't written for so long. I felt I needed some distance...
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(Anonymous) 2006-05-11 09:55 am (UTC)(link)Lestat
no subject
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(Anonymous) 2006-05-12 12:50 pm (UTC)(link)no subject
(Anonymous) 2006-05-12 12:52 pm (UTC)(link)no subject